No fewer than 20 people, including fish farmers and wood loggers, have been killed while several others sustained injuries in a fresh Boko Haram attack on Hambagda, a community located a few kilometres from Gwoza town in Borno State.
The incident was said to have occurred after a landmine suspected to have been planted by Boko Haram terrorists exploded on the outskirts of Gwoza Local Government Area.
The Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) confirmed that the explosion happened around 11 a.m. on Thursday.
According to the JTF, some of the victims were loggers who had gone into the area to collect firewood to support their families.
“It is a sad day for us in Gwoza town, we lost about 20 loggers and several others sustained gunshot wounds.
“The terrorists planted improvised explosive devices IEDs on the route after the explosions, they fired at the helpless civilians,” a Civilian JTF source said.
According to report, about 18 bodies have so far been recovered around communities close to Gwoza town.
Reports also warned that the death toll could rise, as several people were still unaccounted for.
Residents said the attackers appeared to be moving through the area in a series of violent raids, raising fresh concerns over security in farming communities as the planting season approaches.